From diplomat to millionair

[Cindar]

The problem is that tech trading really isn't trading at all. Trade implies that both sides lose something in exchange for something else (of hopefully equal or greater value). Information can't be traded, it can only be duplicated. You can't hope to directly solve this problem in a game, it hasn't even been solved in the real world yet.

So in the end, the real problem isn't that the players can abuse this, its that the AI isn't trying to abuse it at all. If one AI gets a tech that another empire on the other side of the galaxy needs, it should be trying to trade. It gives money, it brings your race more friends, etc. Unless you are stupid enough to give techs to someone you are about to start a war with it is never to your disadvantage to exchange tech for tangible goods.

[shanicus]

I actually enjoy the tech trading. Certainly there should be an option to turn off Tech Brokering; this has been an issue in many, many games.

But, the bottom line is that it is only exploitative if the Player chooses to use it that way. Every game that I have played that allows tech trading has this issue to a certain extent. But, I for one don't really milk the trading and so it isn't much of an issue to me.

Obviously, some players may find it exploitative and some may use it that way, but, having played through a few games, I bet most people will stop or at least slow down in their use of this "technique". There are far more important game tweaks to focus on than this at the moment (IMO).

[Fishman]

ORIGINAL: Cindar

So in the end, the real problem isn't that the players can abuse this, its that the AI isn't trying to abuse it at all. If one AI gets a tech that another empire on the other side of the galaxy needs, it should be trying to trade. It gives money, it brings your race more friends, etc. Unless you are stupid enough to give techs to someone you are about to start a war with it is never to your disadvantage to exchange tech for tangible goods.

Actually, there is one very important point to why you SHOULDN'T tech trade: Despite the fact that it can be very profitable, giving up your advantage can make having all that money worthless, and remember: If you sell it to someone, you sell it to everyone. Exploiting this will basically mean the AI no longer has to do as much research, which saves him a ton, too.

[taltamir]

you can also trade galaxy maps for lots of money... thing is, each time you trade it with another race, the value of YOUR map rises...

ORIGINAL: Fishman

ORIGINAL: Cindar

So in the end, the real problem isn't that the players can abuse this, its that the AI isn't trying to abuse it at all. If one AI gets a tech that another empire on the other side of the galaxy needs, it should be trying to trade. It gives money, it brings your race more friends, etc. Unless you are stupid enough to give techs to someone you are about to start a war with it is never to your disadvantage to exchange tech for tangible goods.

Actually, there is one very important point to why you SHOULDN'T tech trade: Despite the fact that it can be very profitable, giving up your advantage can make having all that money worthless, and remember: If you sell it to someone, you sell it to everyone. Exploiting this will basically mean the AI no longer has to do as much research, which saves him a ton, too.

everyone AND the pirates...
I have seen unique tech such as "death rays" spread like wildfire from one AI empire to another.

[Pocus]

No Tech Brokering Option please, by all mean.